Golden State Warriors and Partners Transform San L...

NBA Cares collaborators pose with several players on the Golden State Warriors at the San Leandro Boys and Girls Club. Photo by Carla Thomas.

History was made at the Boys & Girls Club of San Leandro on Friday June 1st when half a dozen members of the Golden State Warriors, the 2017 NBA champions and winners of the NBA finals Game 1, the day before arrived in full force.

Steph Curry, Kevin Durant, David West, Quinn Cook, Nick Young and JaVale McGee all took part in an onsite press conference and ribbon cutting of the newly upgraded center.

The club, in need of a makeover, was given the ultimate wish complete with a with computer room, multi-purpose room and new garden and art classes as part of the NBA Cares Learn and Play Zone. Presented by YouTubeTV, the NBA, and Golden State Warriors, in partnership with Kaiser Permanente and State Farm made the upgrades to the BGCA possible.

NBA TV Sportscaster, Ahmad Rashad, welcomed members of the community along with WNBA legends Ruthie Bolton and Jennifer Azzi, San Leandro Mayor Pauline Cutter and Kim Allen of State Farm, among others.

For Steph Curry, the event was a family affair as he was accompanied by his wife Ayesha with baby bump, and parents Dell and Sonya Curry, who was celebrating her birthday. “We are a dub nation strong in the Bay Area and it definitely rings true here in San Leandro,” said Curry addressing an audience of about 80 kids.

Curry encouraged the youth in attendance to “invest in their education and invest in each other.” “It’s great to use the resources we have within the NBA, the Warriors and our individual circles to donate our money or time to better the community,” said Curry.

After the talk, Curry and his team members engaged the youth in art and science projects and creating snack packs for the needy.

“It’s a great day to see how this center was transformed in four days,” said Pastor Charley Hames, Jr. of Beebe Memorial Cathedral along with wife and event sponsor Michelle Gaskill Hames of Kaiser.

“This is a state of the art facility that the kids can be proud of,” said NBA Commissioner Adam Silver. “This is a place where they can develop their skills on the court of off.”

Rick Welts, GSW President and CEO said the Warriors Community Foundation has given away $9 million dollars to improve the outcomes of the community since it’s re-launch in 2012. “While winning championships are a priority, the legacy of community service is what the NBA and the Warriors are very proud of.”